HUM 204 Tahoe Semester Plenary: What is Nature?
This plenary course provides the experiential and academic space at the intersection of the sciences and the humanities exploring how disparate disciplines provide insight into answering the question, “What is nature?” Phase one of the course considers the role of the body in nature by equipping students with the required medical, navigational and practical skills to explore remote places culminating in a multi-day backpacking experience which teaches leadership skills. Phase two examines the role of the spirit in our encounters with wilderness from western and non-western perspectives. The third phase considers the role of the mind in analyzing issues related to the role that race has historically had in regard to U.S. indigenous populations and the role that it plays today regarding wilderness access and cultural notions.